Moor Otters Arts Trail are up for auction!
As the hugely successful Moor Otters Arts Trail draws to a close, Dartmoor National Park has today thanked everyone for getting involved.
The Moor Otters Arts Trail returned to Dartmoor for the second time and thousands of people got involved with supporting the sculpture trail which raises vital funds for conservation work in the National Park.
People now have the opportunity to give an otter a permanent home: all are being auctioned to raise money for Donate for Dartmoor, the National Park’s fundraising programme.
Throughout the summer, 81 beautiful otter and cub sculptures were unleashed on different trails Dartmoor, Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Topsham near Exeter.
Loyal otter spotters took to differnt trails to find 81 otter and cub sculptures. Each one was uniquely decorated by artists, creatives and local talent.
The otters had to go into hibernation when the trail was delayed from its original start date of May 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, the trail has been a massive success.
Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Head of Communications and Fundraising Sam Hill said: “Huge thanks to everyone who helped make the Moor Otters Arts Trail such a massive success – our otter spotters, hosts, valued partners, sponsors and artists have been amazing.
“Two sculptures were ‘adopted’ not long after the trail officially launched and one sculpture alone has collected £300 in its donation box. Not only that but many people bought items from our special Moor Otters memorabilia sold in our visitor centres.
“We have loved seeing people explore Dartmoor, donate to the cause, support local businesses and have fun. We’re so grateful to everyone who has taken part. We’ve had brilliant feedback and heard lovely stories from 'otter spotters' who've made memories after what’s been a really challenging couple of years for so many of us.
“We’re now gearing up to auction the sculptures, something which will raise money for future conservation projects benefiting Dartmoor’s special wildlife and habitats.”
The auction is the perfect opportunity for people to give an otter a permanent home. There are two ways to get involved.
An online auction for 56 otters is live now and closes at 8pm on Friday, 1 October.
Twenty-five sculptures, selected earlier in the year as ‘golden otters’, will be auctioned at a live event hosted by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, Exeter, on Saturday 2 Oct 2021 at 2pm. People can do this in person, online or by phone.
You can buy an otter online.
“Donate for Dartmoor supports a range of conservation projects such as footpath repairs, wildflower meadow restoration and protecting habitats for creatures such as the beautiful Southern Damselfly – plus more besides,” added Sam. “If you’ve fallen in love with a sculpture this is a wonderful opportunity to take one home and raise money for the National Park. You can ‘buy one now’ or take your chance in the live auction. However you do it, your money will make a huge difference.”
The main sponsor of the Moor Otters Arts Trail 2021 is South West Water. The trail is supported by a range of Valued Partners: Absolute PR and Marketing, BRS Images, Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood Auctioneers, Bovey Castle, Jolly Roger Lifesize Models, Mail Boxes Etc, The Saleroom, Visit Dartmoor and the Western Morning News.
